What Is A Home Inspection And Do I Really Need One?
What Is A Home Inspection?
A home inspection is a limited, non-invasive visual examination of the overall condition of a home, including the home's major structure, systems, and components that are visible and safely accessible.
A good inspector will adhere to the standards of practice set by the state and/or the governing certification organization. The standards of practice will outline what is included and excluded in a typical home inspection.
For example, we adhere to the standards of practice set forth by the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, the world’s leading organization in home inspector education and training. You can view the standards of practice here to get an idea of what is included and excluded in your home inspection when hiring us.
The certified home inspector should discuss the inspection results with you on-site, as well as provide you with a written report. A great home inspection report will include high-resolution photos of defects, detailed descriptions of the findings, and recommendations for next steps, such as to repair and/or consult with a specialized professional.
For example, if the home inspector identified concerning cracks in the foundation, it may be recommended to consult with a licensed and experienced structural engineer who can assist further in determining the severity and a solution.
Once you receive your home inspection report, you get to decide how the data is used. If it’s for information only, great! An excellent report can provide those details for your own knowledge.
If you need the report to negotiate a home purchase, fantastic! A top notch home inspection report will help you navigate those complexities. To gain a feel for what a thorough and detailed inspection report should include, click here to view our interactive sample report.
Whether you are a homebuyer, home seller, current homeowner, or real estate investor, a home inspector’s aim should be to deliver you an exceptionally detailed and informative home inspection report!
Hopefully you now understand more and we’ve answered the question, “What is a home inspection?” Let’s explore why you need a home inspection.
Why Do I Need A Home Inspection?
You may be asking yourself, “Do I really need a home inspection?” The short answer is yes, you really do!
As we’ve previously discussed, a home inspection can provide you with lots of important information about your future abode. It’s not just about the obvious things, like if the lights turn on and the microwave runs. It’s also about the big items that get overlooked or completely ignored, you know, the things that will cost you thousands (or more!) to treat, repair, and/or replace if there are major issues.
As experienced home inspection experts, we have come across thousands of defects. A few common problems we often see are:
Poorly maintained or aging roof
Structural issues
Electrical and plumbing problems
HVAC concerns
Damaged sewer lateral
Let’s briefly break down each one.
Poorly maintained or Aging roof
A poorly maintained or aging/old roof with deteriorated shingles and other damage can lead to some critical home ownership problems, such as water damage and energy efficiency issues. Water damage is a doozy, causing sheathing, rafters, and other wood elements to rot. Not only would repairing all of these be extremely costly, it would be a headache to manage. Finding a home inspector who is willing to physically get on the roof is key. Not all inspectors do, so be sure to ask this question when scheduling your inspection.
Structural Issues
The structure of a home is generally classified as “the bones” of the home, including the foundation, crawlspace, basement, framing, roof, and walls. A wide range of issues can come from poor construction, natural disasters, and settling overtime.
If a home inspector notices signs of concerning structural issues, a savvy inspector will refer to licensed and experienced structural engineers for further evaluation. Home inspectors can identify issues, but an engineer will be able to dig deeper and pinpoint the exact problem as well as help you create a solution.
Structural issues can range anywhere from $5,000 - $50,000 to fix, depending on severity of the problems. It can be financially devastating to most people. A good home inspection can prevent you from purchasing a money pit or at least assist in negotiating down the final purchase price so you are treated fairly.
Electrical and Plumbing Problems
Electrical issues can span in severity from a tripped fuse to a whole house nightmare. We see most issues pertaining to recalled electrical panels and/or outdated wiring. Another common issue is the absence of GFCI outlets (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter), which should be installed near all water sources in the home as a safety precaution.
Plumbing problems can range from a leaky faucet to busted pipes. An issue like water leaks can lead to even greater trouble by wreaking havoc on flooring and subflooring. We often find rot and even mold in these situations, so misplaced water is something to not tango with. Hiring a qualified home inspector is the only way to go when purchasing a home. Ensure the electrical and plumbing systems won’t leave you in despair.
HVAC Concerns
When it comes to the heating and cooling system of a home, we find improperly installed or sealed ductwork, units not running efficiently, and/or units at the end of their lifespan. It’s a good idea to have this information in your home inspection report, so if you are purchasing an older home with an older HVAC system, you may want to consider that when purchasing the property. If partnering with a real estate professional, be sure to consult with them first. They are a pro in your corner who can help you determine if this is something you want to negotiate with the seller for a fair price on the home.
Broken Sewer Lateral
Many homebuyers are unaware that when purchasing a home they become responsible for everything on the property, including the sewer lateral. It’s not pleasant to think about the pipe in which your poo travels, but hey, it’s real life folks! If damaged, the pipe can cost thousands to repair or replace. We’ve seen quotes from companies as high as $15,000. Yikes, don’t let this be you! To avoid this costly mistake (literally), ask your home inspector to perform a sewer scope, also known as a sewer line inspection. To learn more about a sewer scope inspection, check the links at the bottom of this page.
It may be tempting to hire a less qualified inspector to save a few bucks or even skip the home inspection entirely. We get it, purchasing a home is expensive! Yet, if you don’t do the inspection and you face one or more of these common issues in your new home (cue dreaded music), well, let’s just say you won’t like what comes next…
Here’s a helpful perspective that we often share with our home buying clients.
If you’re going to invest $200,000, $400,000, or more into something, why not ensure you’re making the best possible purchasing decision? Don’t let a few hundred bucks stop you from taking care of your most expensive asset.
Think of it like this. You can either:
Spend a few hundred dollars now for a thorough inspection that could save you thousands later, have incredible peace of mind, and enjoy your new home worry free,
ORSave the few hundred dollars now and close on the home only to find out you have $20,000 in foundation damage all because you didn’t understand the importance of a good inspection.
Which would you rather have?
A home inspection should also highlight the positives of a home. Every home has both pros and cons, so we do our best to ensure you have a good grasp of the overall condition of the property. Many homebuyers have the idea that a home inspection is a “pass/fail” situation, but we like to steer clear of using that verbiage. We understand the excitement of purchasing a new home, so that’s why we infuse our inspection services with both optimism and realism. Of course we want you to feel thrilled AND also be wise. Having realistic expectations when home shopping is crucial to your success as a homebuyer. Learn more over on this blog post. It’s a must read!
Whatever you do in your homebuying journey, our biggest piece of advice is to not skip the inspection, even with competing offers on the table. Even if you think it’s your dream home, no home is worth skipping the home inspection. If you forgo the home inspection altogether and find out later that something is majorly wrong, the home of your dreams will quickly become your worst nightmare. Read this TIMES article of a buyer who suffered grave consequences when forgoing the inspection.
Hire The Right Home Inspector (Regret Free!)
We’ve heard from our insurance agent friends that if a home inspector overlooks a glaring item during your home inspection, such as failing to identify a bum roof that needs to be replaced, you could possibly lose your homeowner’s insurance even though you’ve qualified. Insurance companies won’t insure you if your home repairs are going to cost them too much money prior to closing.
The moral of this story is to get a home inspection and make sure you are hiring a highly experienced and certified home inspector. In Iowa, inspectors aren’t required to obtain licensing or certification of any kind, so they aren’t all created equal. Do your research and be confident that you’re hiring a trusted pro. Read about how to choose a home inspector on our blog.
Now What?
Hopefully we have successfully answered the questions, “What is a home inspection and do I really need one?”
If you can’t tell, we are strong supporters of every homebuyer having the best home inspection completed.
If you or someone you know is seeking a qualified and experienced home inspector to do an amazing job, look no further!
We are Des Moines’ best home inspector due to our wealth of knowledge, years of exceptional experience, and unmatched credentials and skills. Plus, we LOVE what we do and we ensure our clients are treated like family.
Check out our home inspection pricing and services here or schedule here.
Want More?
Check out other posts we’ve written.